Leave at the next junction or service area if the vehicle is still driveable. If it is not, move left onto the hard shoulder or into the nearest emergency area, exit by the left-hand door, get behind the safety barrier, and call National Highways on 0300 123 5000. Never place a warning triangle on a motorway.
The sequence National Highways sets out runs:
- Go left
- Get the vehicle as far left as possible
- Exit by the left-hand door
- Get behind the barrier
- Call for help
Leave the Motorway If You Can
A deflating tyre is not always a stop-immediately emergency. If the vehicle still steers and the junction is close, continuing at reduced speed to an exit or service area puts you somewhere far safer than any roadside position.
Judge it on control rather than on damage. A ruined tyre costs less than a roadside recovery and far less than standing on a live motorway.
Go Left
Where leaving is not possible, National Highways advises moving left and stopping in a place of relative safety. In order of preference:
- A motorway service area
- The next junction exit
- An emergency area, marked by orange surfacing and a blue sign carrying an orange SOS telephone symbol
- The hard shoulder, as far left as the surface allows
Park as far from the live carriageway as the space permits. Turn the front wheels to the left so the vehicle does not roll into traffic if struck.
Switch on hazard warning lights immediately.
Smart Motorways With No Hard Shoulder
All lane running sections convert the former hard shoulder into a running lane, so the hard shoulder you would normally use is live traffic.
Emergency areas replace it. They sit at regular intervals, are surfaced in orange, and carry blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol showing the distance to the next one.
Two rules apply specifically to them:
- Use the free SOS telephone inside the area. It connects directly to a National Highways regional operations centre and identifies your location automatically, which a mobile call cannot do.
- Do not leave an emergency area without speaking to National Highways first. They close the lane or set warning signs so you can rejoin safely.
Emergency areas are for breakdowns and emergencies only, not for rest stops or phone calls.
If You Cannot Reach a Safe Place
Stopping in a live lane is the most dangerous outcome, and the advice reverses completely.
- Stay in the vehicle
- Keep your seatbelt fastened
- Keep hazard warning lights on
- Call 999 immediately, or press the eCall SOS button if the vehicle has one, and ask for the police
Do not attempt to get out. National Highways will close the lane and send a traffic officer.
The same applies if anyone in the vehicle cannot follow the standard advice for any reason, including disability, injury, or young children. Stay inside, hazards on, and call 999.
Breaking down within roadworks also requires a 999 call rather than the standard procedure.
Getting Out of the Vehicle
Where you have reached the hard shoulder or an emergency area and it is safe to exit:
- Leave by the left-hand door and make all passengers do the same
- Get behind the safety barrier and well up the embankment where one exists
- Stay ahead of the vehicle, not behind it, so an impact pushes the car away from you
- Leave animals inside the vehicle
- Wear something fluorescent or reflective
Never stand between the vehicle and moving traffic. Never return to the vehicle to collect belongings once clear.
Never Use a Warning Triangle
This is the rule that differs from every other road type. Highway Code Rule 277 states explicitly that you must not place a warning device on the carriageway of a motorway.
The 45-metre triangle rule applies to A roads and other ordinary roads. Carrying it onto a motorway means walking along a live hard shoulder at 70mph traffic speeds, which is why the Highway Code prohibits it.
Do Not Change the Tyre Yourself
Changing a wheel on a motorway hard shoulder is not recommended under any circumstances, and on a smart motorway with no hard shoulder it is not possible safely.
The reasons are specific:
- Hard shoulder incidents account for a disproportionate share of motorway deaths
- The damaged wheel is frequently on the offside, placing you in the traffic lane
- A jacked vehicle can be destabilised by the air pressure from passing lorries
Call a breakdown provider. Recovery to a safe location is the correct response, not a roadside repair.
Calling for Help
Work through these in order:
- The free orange SOS telephone where one is accessible without walking in a live lane
- National Highways on 0300 123 5000 from a mobile
- Your breakdown provider, after National Highways is aware of your position
- 999 if you are in a live lane or at immediate risk
Tell the operator if an animal remains in the vehicle, particularly in hot weather, and if anyone present is vulnerable or travelling alone.
Rejoining the Motorway
Build up speed on the hard shoulder before merging and watch for a safe gap, allowing for vehicles already stationary ahead.
From an emergency area, contact National Highways on the SOS telephone first. They will set signs and close the lane behind you so you can rejoin without crossing live traffic from a standing start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you be fined for stopping on the hard shoulder?
The hard shoulder is legal to use for breakdowns, emergencies, and when directed by police. Stopping for a rest, a phone call, or directions can result in a fine.
What if my phone has no signal?
Walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway, following the arrows on the marker posts behind the hard shoulder. The call is free and identifies your location.
Does a space-saver spare allow motorway driving?
Space-saver spares usually carry a 50mph limit and a restricted mileage. Check the sidewall marking, and recover the vehicle rather than fitting one at the roadside.
What should I keep in the car for a motorway breakdown?
Carry a charged phone, a hi-vis jacket for each occupant, a torch, and your breakdown provider’s number stored alongside 0300 123 5000.
Are run-flat tyres safe to drive on after a puncture?
Run-flats typically permit around 50 miles at reduced speed, which is usually enough to reach a service area or exit. Confirm the limits in your handbook.